Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-28
The State school Taxt.Bnoks.

EDS. coRp-UNIoN: My attention has
been called to an article in the San Frau
cisco Examiner of the 26th instant, which is
so manifestly unjust in its criticism of the
proposed bill for the distribution OF the
State series of school textbooks that I
think it requires something more than
passing notice. know nothing of the po-
sition of Superintendent Hoitt in regard to
the distribution and publication of these
books, but as citizen interested in the
success of the State series of textbooks,
and conversant with the provisions of the
bill which is criticised. desire to say that
any person familiar with the existing law
must realize that it is totally imperative,
and has been declared so by the Conven-
ton of Superintendent which met at San
Jose in December last. The people of Cali
ifornia have decided almost unanimously
in favor of publishing a series of school
books. and have made appropriations for
the same. A part of the series is ready for
distribution, and now the school. book
rings desire to thwart the whole scheme by
imposing impediments to any we'll defined
method of distributing these books to the
various school districts. The bill intro
duced by Senator Hinshaw in the Senate,
and by Assemblyman Briefly in the House,
is designed to cover the defect, and is care
fully guarded against any jobs. 1t permits
retail dealers to buy the books and re-
tail them at profit represented by
the difference between the postage and
freight rates 1t provides a revolving fund
also wherewith County Superintendent
may purchase books to fill the orders of
teachers, pupils Clerks of Boards of Trus-
tees, and Principals of State Normal
Schools. This fact itself is sufficient to
show that dealers can in no way form any
corner or ring, because those who do not
desire to patronize the retail dealers, have
their remedy in ordering through the
County Superintendent, or direct from the
State by mail. The charge that the Super
intendent of Public Instruction can rob
the State of an enormous sum by shipping
forty tons of books to San Francisco at 81
per ton, and selling the same at profit of
1920 per ton is too ridiculous to be considered.
The State Superintendent has nothing
whatever to do with shipping the books.
He receives no money for freight or ex-
press. Only the cost of the books at Sacra-
mento comes into his hands, unless the
books are ordered by mail, and when so
so ordered he turns the postage over
to the State Printer who ships all books.
He would have to pay for them first, under
the bill, sum equal to about $4,000, and
then come in competition with all others,
who might desire 10 order the books. No
business man would be insane enough to
attempt such scheme. 1t looks little
strange that at the present time the Eran-
i,ler should permit itself to be hoodwinked
into the interests OF book rings, and thus
devote its influence to an effort to ruin the
textbook scheme, when its success is so
nearly accomplished.
The charge is made s. that the compile.
ton of certain books is Intentionally de-
layed so that County Boards will be forced
into another four-year contract with deal
ers. The law does not require any such
action on the part of any Board, aud if
any such contracts should be made they
would be null and void whenever the books
in question were ready for distribution.
a DEMnCRATIc ERIENn OLE EnI-c ArInN